Bridge repairs 2 weeks away

Katie White

Staff Writer

kwhite@mojonews.com

EAST PALESTINE — A bridge found by the state to be in critical condition over the summer will be repaired within the next two weeks, Village Manager Pete Monteleone told council on Monday.

Monteleone updated council on the West Main Street Bridge project, which is being done by Bova Excavating and designed by MS Consultants.

The bridge over Valley Run Creek was inspected by the Ohio Department of Transportation in June and was found to have a few critical issues.

MS Consultants also performed an inspection on the bridge following the ODOT notification, and found that the main problem areas were the west and east abutments, and that the superstructure and asphalt were in good condition.

Monteleone said he has been informed that the repair work is expected to keep the bridge safe and in working condition for the next five years and that in the meantime the village will continue to seek granting funding for a larger repair or replacement in the future.

He said Bova will begin the repair work in two weeks, and the work will not require closure of the bridge.

The project does not require council approval due to being below the $50,000 threshold.

In other business, Monteleone also announced that the village has been conditionally awarded funding from the Ohio Department of Natural Resources to renovate the shelters at the park.

The ODNR is awarding $17,455 for the $27,455 project, with the village responsible for a $10,000 match, he said.

The project is still awaiting final approval from the state, and if approved, will be completed sometime this winter, he added.

He also announced that another project at the park has been scheduled for June 3 through Aug. 1 of 2018, and that is to renovate the aging tennis courts.

“These two months are the gap in tennis seasons,” he said, referring to the fact that the public courts are also used by the local school district.

The work will be done by Vasco Sports Contractors of Massillon.

Mayor Margo Zuch said she was pleased that residents supported the two park levy renewals on the Nov. 7 ballot.

“We are very grateful for that. It is very important that we have that money to run our park,” she said.